Aeronautical machine.



F.. CLARK.

AERONAUTICAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19, 19l6. 1,233,982 Patented Ju1y17,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l tran stares Parana orare.

FRANK CLARK7 OF THROOP, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM WETTON, OF THROOP, PENNSYLVANIA.

AERONAUTICAL MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat-elite@ July 17, 1917.

Application led October 1.9, 1916. Serial No. 126,574.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, F RANK CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Throop, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeronautical Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to aeronautical machines and more particularly to a machine of this character to be used in warfare.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an aeronautical machine which is started from the ground to Sail in the direction of the enemy and which will release bombs or other vprojectiles at-intervals. o

Another important object of the. presen invention is to provide a mechanism that will turn the machine on its homeward iight after the last bomb or other projectile has been released therefrom.

An additional object of the invention is to provide means for automatically controlling the planes of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel means for retaining the bombs in position to be released one at aA time.

Another object is to provide a machine of the type which consists of few parts and which may be built at a comparatively small cost.

TWith the above and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the combinations, constructions and operations that will be hereinafter set forth in detail.

0n the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the means for controlling' the planes.

Fig. 4 is anot-her detail view of this mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the machine.

Fig. G is a top view of the machine with the planes and gas bag removed.

Fig. is a detail view of one of the bomb holding members and the means foiactuating the same to release thc bombs.

Lik characters of reference indicate like parts in all the views.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the framework o'f the machine which is shown in this case as being rectangular. This frame is constructed from any light but durable material and has mountedvtherein a double walled gas bag 6 which is provided with a relatively large opening 7 that extends the entire lengthA of the bag: The lpurpose of this relatively large opening 7 is to keep the -machine in a straight course which is accom plished by the air rushing through this opening. Extending longitudinally through the opening 7 is a propeller shaft 8 having the usual propellers 9 keyed thereto and the usual motor 10 mounted thereon for driving this shaft.

Extending transversely across the top of the machine and having its ends journaled therein isa rotatable rod 11 having the usual planes 12 fixed thereto. One of the rear end bars of the frame is U-shaped in cross section and has bearings 12 formed thereon. Mounted in. thisU-shaped bar or guide is a rack bar 13 having its upper end pivotally connected with a link 14 which in turn is pivotally connected with the main plane. A' pinion 15 is journaled in the bearings 12 and meshes with the rack bar 13. -A4

sprocket chain 16 transmits power from the shaft 8 to the pinion l5.

Journaled in bearings 17 which are 'secured to the bottom of the frame 5 is a shaft 18 which is threaded almost its entire length and has keyed thereto a relatively large sprocket wheel 19 which is driven by a sprocket chain 20 from the shaft 8. EX- tending longitudinally through the frame and secured to the bottom thereof are parallel spaced bars or strips 21. Pivotally mounted upon these bars 21 are bomb holding devices which comprise arcuate jaws 22 which have formed integral thereon arms 23. These arms 23 are inclined toward each other and are normally held in position for grasping the bombs by means of contractile springs 24 which are attached at one end to the bars 21. An inverted U-shaped member 25, having a threaded opening therein, is mounted on the threaded portion of the shaft 1S and is adapted to move longitudinally thereon. Disposed above the shaft 1S is a guide rod 2G which extends through an opening in the U-shaped member 25. As this inverted U-shaped member 25 passes around the sprocket over the inclined arms 23 of the bomb grasping devices, it will move these arms toward each other and thereby release the bombs.

- A rudder 27 is mounted at the rear end of the machine and is normally held at right angles thereto by means of contractile springs 28. This rudder is provided with the usual rudder shaft which isv provided with an angular extension 29.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The engine 10 is started to drive the propeller shaft 8 which drives the machine forward. Power is transmitted vfrom this shaft 8 to the pinion l5 by means of the sprocket chain 16 which will cause the rack bar 13 to move downwardly which will cause the planes to be moved in the position shown in Fig. l. While the machine is thus. in motion, the threaded shaft 18 is rotated by means of the sprocket chain 20 passing 19. This causes the inverted Ushaped member 25 to move longitudinally on this shaft and ywhen the ends of this member125 contact with the ends of thearms of the bomb holding devices, they will be moved slightly toward each other. This will open the jaws 22 thereby releasing the bombs. After the ast bomb has been released., the member 25 engages the member 29 and moves the same just enough to move the rudder against the tension of the springs 28 which will allow the machine to turn on its homeward Hight. It

is'to be understood that this member 25 only contacts with the member. 29 just long enough for the turn to be made. By the time the machine h'as been turned on its homeward flight, the member 25 will have reached the end of the threaded shaft. Having describedthe form of my invention which I now consider tol be the best embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the same may be modified in many different respects, that may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a flying machine including a rudder, of resilient means normally retaining the rudder in a position to cause the machine to travel in a straight path, spaced longitudinal bars mounted on the machine projectile holding means mounted on the bars and normally retained in engagement with projectiles, the projectile holding means being disposed so as to retain the projectiles between the spaced bars, an angularly disposed extension iixed to move with the rudder, and a longitudinally movable member mounted on the machine adapted to engage the projectile holding means and successively release the proj ectiles, said member engaging the angularly ldisposed extension after the last projectile has been released, to

move the rudder to a new. position.

FRANK CLARK.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addresing the Commissioner nf Patents. Washington, ID. C. 

